ALL THINGS IRELAND: May 2010
GALWAY 0-26 WATERFORD 2-17...GALWAY'S 29-YEAR WAIT FOR AN ALL-IRELAND TITLE IS FINALLY, GLORIOUSLY OVER...

Saturday, May 29, 2010

IRELAND THUMP ALGERIA AT THE RDS

Ireland showed the rest of the world, once again, that they should be playing at this year's World Cup Finals.
Ireland played Algeria at the RDS on Friday night and easily emerged as the better team to follow up on their victory against Paraguay, who are also going to South Africa in June.
Trappatoni's Ireland started the game well, controlling possession and creating chances and a goal soon arrived for Ireland.
Derby midfielder Paul Green celebrated his second cap and his first start for his country with a goal when he dived bravely to head in Liam Lawrence's 32nd-minute cross, and Ireland rarely looked like surrendering their lead thereafter.

They doubled it seven minutes after the break through skipper Robbie Keane's cool finish after errors from Wolves defender Aldane Guedioura and keeper Faouzi Chaouchi, and the Tottenham striker might have completed a hat-trick before he finally did find the net once again.
Djamel Mesbah's trip on Keane handed him the chance to take his senior international goals tally to 43 from the penalty spot, and he duly obliged by sending substitute keeper Rais Mbolhi the wrong way five minutes from time.
Trapattoni, who had drummed into his players for the last week that the two games were all about preparing for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, was delighted with their response.
He said: 'If we play like we did against Paraguay and Algeria, I think we must achieve qualification for the European Championships.'
The fact that the most convincing win of the Italian's reign to date came with Green stating for the first time alongside 19-year-old debutant Greg Cunningham, the Manchester City full-back, was all the more pleasing.
Shame we won't be in South Africa.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

IRELAND BEAT PARAGUAY AT THE RDS

The Republic of Ireland defeated World Cup finalists Paraguay 2-1 tonight.
First half goals by Kevin Doyle on 7 mins and a cracking shot by Liam Lawrence gave Giovanni Trappatoni's team a commandig lead at half-time.
The latin Americans stepped up the pace in the second half and enjoyed the majority of the ball without creating too many chances at goal until Lucas Barrios managed to find the back of the net with a snap-shot on 58 mins for his first goal on his debut for his country.
Ireland Manager Trappatoni expressed his satisfaction with the victory and praised his players for the effort and commitment in the game.
He gave second-half debuts to Paul Green of Derby, I was impressed by his tenacious display in midfield, forward Cillian Sheridan of Celtic, who looked lively.
Shane Long and Keith Fahey also impressed when they came on.
So, overall, a win and a good workout for the squad.
Next up is Algeria on Friday evening, also at the RDS.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

IRISH SOCER STARLET LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AFTER FREAK INJURY

Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy has had life-saving surgery after suffering a freak accident in a training match on Friday night.

The Everton teenager sustained a laceration to his liver after colliding with Irish amateur team goalkeeper Adrian Walsh at Malahide.
After being attended to on the pitch, he was rushed to the nearby Mater Hospital for an emergency operation.
On Saturday night Duffy was making good progress in a recovery unit.
Team surgeon Professor John O'Byrne said: "Shane collided with a player in a way that you would see thousands of times in football match.
"It was a freak injury that in another 100 years of medicine, we may never see again.
"The intensive care staff in the Mater must be credited for their expertise, in particular surgeon Gerry Mc Entee (former Meath footballer) and fast response which in no uncertain terms saved Shane's life.
"Shane was stabilised in intensive care after the surgery which stopped internal bleeding."
The 18-year-old, who switched to the Republic having played for Northern Ireland youth teams, had been scheduled to remain with Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad, solely for training purposes, ahead of friendly clashes against Paraguay and Algeria.
However the IFA in Belfast, have lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to try to prevent the Republic from stealing "their" player and until the Court delivers its ruling this summer, the lad cannot play for the full Republic side.
Though it must be stressed that his health is the main thing at the moment, and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

AVATAR: SOME SHOW!

I guess that most of you, by now, have seen the movie Avatar by James Cameron.
Its an extraordinary piece of work.
The special effects are amazing, I didnt get to see it in 3D in the cinemas, I bought the DVD online the minute it was released.
It had as its plot an invasion of the planet Pandora for the energy it has under its soil, rewind to the massacre of native American Indians two Centuries ago and you get the picture.
Except this wasn't no ordinary picture, it was an exhilurating ride through Pandora and the the hi-tech abilities of directer James Cameron and his side-kick, John Landau.
To have produced such a technological masterpiece takes some achieving, but they have done it.
I just don't know how,  it was brilliant.

Monday, May 17, 2010

IRELAND'S EOIN MORGAN HELPS ENGLAND WIN THE T20

England stormed to a seven-wicket victory over Australia at the Kensington Oval to break their 35-year duck in International Cricket Council tournaments.
Eoin Morgan produced another well-paced innings to guide England home.
In all, he played 23 times for Ireland in ODIs, scoring 744 runs, which included the one century & five 50s, for a batting average of 35.42.

Morgan is the first cricketer to have scored a first-class double century for Ireland with an unbeaten 209 against the United Arab Emirates in February 2007 at Abu Dhabi.
 The only uncertainty on Monday was the name of Kevin Pietersen’s newborn son. Perhaps he should consider Eoin because it is the name on every England fan’s lips after a clean sweep of Super Eight victories was assured by the young Irish star in their batting order.
The ease of England's success in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 made a mockery of previous failures, as Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen's stand of 111 helped them cruise past Australia's 147 for six - with three full overs to spare.
Kieswetter (63) hit six fours and a six in his 40-ball 50 and Pietersen was almost as dominant in a run chase which became no-contest long before captain Paul Collingwood clubbed the winning runs.
Strange to see an Irishman playing with and celebrating in and England victory, although, it must be said that Ireland have a few overseas players themselves in Trent Johnston and Andre Botha.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

NEW LANDSDOWNE ROAD AVIVA STADIUM OFFICIALLY OPENED

On the 14th of May, 2010, the new Lansdowne Road was officially opened by Brian Cowen Irish Taoiseach at 3pm
The new stadium is certainly a spectacle to behold with state of the art facilities both for fans and players, it is another jewel in the crown for Irish sport.There is a combined provinces match to be played in July but the real action at the stadium will kick of in earnest in August against likely World Cup winners , Argentina on Aug 10th at the new stadium. 
Welcome to my new blog.
I aim to write about everything related to Ireland, be it sport, politics, current affairs, anything to do with Ireland.